The program will include "Triad for Organ," "Rhythmic Suite," "Sonata for Organ," and others performed by Jackson Borges, MM,
Director of Music,
Concordia Evangelical Lutheran Church, Wilmington, Delaware.

Saturday, May 18, 2013 at 7:30pmDelaware Valley Chorale
Elmore's The Cross;
Britten's Rejoice in the Lamb and Festival Te Deum

We pay tribute to the late Philadelphia composer Robert Elmore and celebrate his 100th birthday by presenting The Cross, featuring Grant Youngblood in the role of Christ. Under the direction of David Christopher, DVC will be joined by organist and Elmore protégé Robert Plimpton of San Diego, CA. This monumental work has seldom been performed because of its level of difficulty and the choral resources required. Featured on the second half of the program will be two of the conductor's favorite works by Benjamin Britten, Rejoice in the Lamb and Festival Te Deum.

Robert Elmore and mid-20th Century Organ Music
with Tenth Church Choir
Westminster Brass
Robert Plimpton, organ
Dr. Philip G. Ryken, guest speaker
Robert Plimpton, a former Elmore pupil, is one of the greatest champions of his music.

Robert Plimpton honors the 100th anniversary of Elmore's birth by playing representative organ works in context of composers Robert Elmore knew and admired: his teacher Pietro Yon, Seth Bingham, Clarence Dickinson, and Richard Purvis.

Wednesday, July 24
The Great Auditorium
Ocean Grove, NJ

Monday, August 5
The Spreckels Organ Pavilion
San Diego, CA

Tuesday, October 1
Church of St. Vincent Ferrer
869 Lexington Ave at East 66th Street
New York City

Details: The Premiere of Elmore's Concerto for Organ and Orchestra

A newly discovered Concerto in C Minor for Organ and Orchestra, composed by Robert Elmore in 1938, was given what is believed to be its world premiere performance at the First United Methodist Church of San Diego on Friday, March 18, 2011. Robert Plimpton, a former student of Dr. Elmore and long a champion of his organ music, performed the work with the Grossmont Symphony Orchestra conducted by Dr. Randall Tweed. The work was performed by permission of the National Christian Conference Center, Valley Forge, PA, heirs of the Elmore estate.

Scored for a very large orchestra, the work is vintage early Elmore, with big lush harmonies, driving rhythms, virtuosic writing, and his signature chromaticism. There are two big pedal candezas. The third movement is in jazz-swing style, written at the same time as the composer’s cantata ”The Prodigal Son: a Sermon in Swing” and “Swing Rhapsody for two Pianos.” It is one of the earliest examples of the use of jazz in serious organ music.

A hand-written copy of the score and parts is in the University of Pennsylvania Archives. A contemporary computer edition has been prepared by Ryan Beard, a professional music editor, composer, and conductor in San Diego.

This performance was the first in a series of projects undertaken to honor the 100th anniversary of the composer’s birth on January 2, 1913. Bringing this concerto to life makes a significant contribution to the organ and orchestra repertoire, as it is a major example of twentieth century American musical development. It is hoped that many performances by other orchestras and organists will follow the premiere.